Fear of Animals in Children
Animals elicit different emotional responses from children. Small furry animals such as kittens and puppies usually make kids feel happy. Other scary, loud animals can frighten and traumatize small children. Sometimes small animals such as mice can surprise and scare little kids. By age 5, most children outgrow their fear of animals.
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Dogs
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Dogs, particularly those that are very big and bark very loudly, are a major source of fear in small children. The dog's growling may make children think they are in danger of attack, especially if he curls back his lips and shows his teeth. Fear is a protective instinct that encourages self-preservation and is a natural response to menacing dogs that may seem aggressive. Being chased, scratched or bitten by a dog increases the fear factor exponentially.
Cats
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While most cats are non-threatening animals, some cats are mean and aggressive when around unknown children. A spitting, growling cat with his hair standing on end can be pretty scary to a small child. Cats sometimes will stalk and pounce on children or startle them with their sudden movements. A child may become scared of cats after handling one and getting scratched. They may not have know that the animal's cute furry paws conceal sharp claws.
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Farm Animals
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Farm animals scare young children because of their massive size. Cows and horses seem gigantic in proportion to a little kid. The animals may swing their heads or tails, unintentionally striking a child and increasing their fear. Being butted by a billy goat leaves a child traumatized and fearful of all goats and even harmless little lambs. A braying mule or neighing horse can seem awfully loud and scary to a toddler.
Dealing With Fear
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Children can be taught to overcome their fear of animals. If a child is afraid of frogs, reading him a book or watching a television show about frogs can ease the fear. The child might then be able to handle a frog and learn to like them. Children learn not to be afraid by watching parents and other children interact with animals. Expose your child to an animal from a safe distance, such as visiting a dog or cat in a pet shop. Exposing kids to positive experiences with animals in a safe setting helps alleviate their fear of them.
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References
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